Silent Echoes

Jablonski, Carla. 2007. Silent Echoes.

Silent Echoes is the story of two teens separated by over a century. The first, Lucy Phillips, is a young lady living with her father. They are essentially con artists. They're latest scam is cashing in on the spiritualist movement. She pretends to be a medium and contact the dead. The last thing Lucy ever expected to hear was a voice speaking inside her head.

Meet Lindsay. Lindsay is your somewhat typical New York City teen. She's unhappy at the moment because her alcoholic mother just got married. Married to a guy she had only known a few weeks. A man Lindsay didn't meet until after the fact. She went off to camp only to return to the news that not only was her mom married...but that the whole family was packing up and moving. New school. New city. New stepfather. No wonder she hid herself away in a closet and whispered "help me."

Lucy couldn't believe it. Not only was she hearing a voice saying, "Help me." She was able to have a conversation with this 'spirit.' The audience of New York's elite was mighty impressed and her father was beaming. His con of a daughter had become quite an actress. But while Lucy is benefitting from the situation--her newfound gift--the voice on the other side, Lindsay, is doing miserably. You see, after a few days of hearing voices, she's convinced she's lost it. She's had a nervous breakdown. So, of course, she ends up eventually in a mental ward hospitalized for schizophrenia.

Two time periods. Two teens. Both from odd and somewhat broken homes. Both in need of guidance and encouragement. Can they help each other out of their hard times? Can both girls get their happily ever after endings?

I really didn't know what to expect from this one. Seriously. I'm usually one to shy away from anything having to do with mediums and psychics. But the idea of two teens communicating to one another across time (time being the key word) appealed to the science fiction reader in me. And in fact, the modern-day teen, Lindsay, is a sci fi fan of sorts. So part historical novel, part realistic fiction, part science fiction. Overall, it was an enjoyable read.

http://www.carlajablonski.com/